Manila Mayor Lito Atienza yesterday denied reports that he is endorsing boxing hero Manny Pacquiao as the Liberal Party vice mayoral candidate in Manila for next year’s local elections.
Atienza, a close friend of Pacquiao, clarified that they haven’t discussed the fighter’s possible role in their camp in the coming polls although the two-time world boxing champion has been open with his intention to help the people of the country’s capital city, particularly the less fortunate.
“That’s not true,” said Atienza, who just arrived from a six-day trip to China, referring to reports of Pacquiao’s possible early retirement from boxing to team up with the mayor’s son Ali in next year’s elections, which made the rounds last week.
“We have not discussed his possible role or the best way he could be of help to the city of Manila,” said the elder Atienza, who is on his last term in office as the city’s chief executive.
However, Pacquiao, the other day admitted that he needs to think twice or thrice whether he would make the big jump from the boxing ring to the political arena.
Pacquiao himself stirred up talks on his possible political plans when he filed a transfer of residency from Gen. Santos City to Manila where he owns a condo-minium unit at the Comelec last month.
But Mayor Atienza explained that Pacquiao had himself registered as a resident and as a voter of Manila simply because he wanted to vote here.
“He wanted to help continue my programs for the city because he’s one of those who admired the big changes in the city,” said Atienza.
“I had seen the improvement (in the city) and I wanted to help even with my one vote,” Atienza quoted Pacquiao as saying.
Atienza added: “This is a reflection of this young man’s character. Manny is not an ordinary boxer. He is a very, very grateful individual because of our friendship. Even now that he is a superstar, he still wants to help me.”
Pacquiao is set to fight Erik Morales for the third time on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas and is just wrapping up some off-the-ring commitments before he plunges back into training, first in Cebu City last week of this month then in the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles early September.
